Drug dealer ordered to pay up or face jail

An Eastbourne drug dealer who bought a swanky Audi car with his criminal proceeds has been told to pay up £12,420 – or be jailed.

In June 2013 police in Eastbourne executed a series of drugs warrants, known as Operation Gryphus.

Robert Glass, also known as Leon Smith, now 31, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine, possession with intent to supply cannabis, possession with intent to supply heroin, and with acquiring and using criminal property, which is money laundering.

Glass was sentenced to a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years, a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement for six months, a Supervision Requirement for 18 months, and was charged court costs of £100.

The court also issued a Forfeiture and Destruction Order for the drugs.

Following work by expert police financial investigators, a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) application was prepared and on May 30 a member of staff from the East Sussex Financial Investigation team went to Hove Crown Court to lay the information.

The court heard that the Glass owned an expensive Audi car at the time of his arrest and deemed that it was bought with the proceeds of his criminal lifestyle.

He was ordered to pay a total of £12,420.00 within six months or he will be sent to prison for eight months and he will still have to pay the money owed upon his release.

The car was not confiscated.

Detective Constable Paul Gray said, “We now target not just the criminals but also the profits of their crimes, whether they are from drug dealing or any other form of criminal activity.

“Criminals need to know that where we think they have profits, hidden though they may be, we don’t give up after sentencing.”

Trending

Tragic death of popular Eastbourne florist just days after her husband

UPDATE: Major disruptions between Lewes and Eastbourne after man hit by train